FRESNO, Calif. -
San Diego State struck for four runs in the opening inning and never looked back en route to an 11-6 victory over Fresno State Friday evening. With the win the Aztecs improved to 8-11 overall and evened their Mountain West record at 1-1 as they ended a six-game losing skid.

Senior Jake Romanski led the Aztec offensive surge as he collected five hits with three RBI and scored three times. His RBI single in the top of the opening frame drove in the first of four SDSU runs in the inning.

Romanski's run-scoring hit in the first was followed later in the inning by a three-run home run by freshman third baseman Ty France. It was his second homer of the season and the first of his two hits on the night as he added an RBI single later in the contest.

Two other Aztecs finished the evening with multiple-hit efforts. Tim Zier recorded three singles, an RBI and scored three times while teammate John Spirk had a pair of hits with an RBI and run scored.

SDSU built an 8-1 lead in support of starting pitcher Philip Walby, but after Fresno State scored three times in the bottom of the fourth to close the gap to 8-4, the junior right-hander was lifted in favor of Justin Hepner.

Hepner would toss the next four innings allowing two runs on four hits with four walks and three strikeouts. He would eventually be credited with the win to even his record at 1-1. Freshman Bubba Derby came on in the bottom of the ninth and retired the three batters he faced (including two via the strikeout) to preserve the victory.

San Diego State Fresno State will conclude their three-game series on Sunday (March 17) with a contest scheduled for a 1:05 p.m. start at the Bulldog's Beiden Stadium.